Convertible hosiery package

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and improved reclosable convertible envelope for packaging hosiery or soft goods, having unique end constructions which accommodate the conversion of a normally flat, two-walled hosiery envelope into a bulging four-walled envelope, i.e., an envelope having front and rear walls and two end walls disposed there-between. Specifically, the unique end wall construction of the new envelope includes generally diamondshaped panels which are derived in part from an envelope wall and in part from a closing flap. The diamond-shaped end panels are longitudinally bisected by the end scores of the flat two-walled envelope. For use with non-bulky contents, the envelope tends to remain flattened with its end flaps folded along the longitudinal end scores, however, for use with bulky goods, the envelope takes on &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;dimension&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or is expanded by the separation of the front and rear walls. The expansion is accommodated by the formation of vaulted, generally diamond-shaped end walls by the infolding or collapsing of the end flap and wall portions along the opposite sides of the diamond-shaped panels. The new envelope may be lined, with a flexible liner or pre-formed plastic sleeve. It is provided with convenient tear opening and tab reclosing arrangements designed in such a manner as to eliminate rough edges that might snag or otherwise harm the hosiery.

United States Patent [191 Shea et al.

Jan. 8, 1974 CONVERTIBLE HOSIERY PACKAGE Inventors: John V. Shea;Raymond A. Cote,

both of Charlotte, NC.

Rexham Corporation, New York, NY.

Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 Appl. No.: 248,105

[73] Assignee:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1910 Wingeier 229/68 R3/1953 Hiersteimar..... 229/68 R UX 12/1968 Young 229/68 R X 3/1949Bomini 229/14 BA X Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg AssistantExaminer-John M. Caskie Attorneyl-lubert T. Mandeville et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is a new and improved reclosableconvertible envelope for packaging hosiery or soft goods, having uniqueend constructions which accommodate the conversion of a normally flat,two-walled hosiery envelope into a bulging four-walled envelope, i.e.,an envelope having front and rear walls and two end walls disposedthere-between. Specifically, the unique end wall construction of the newenvelope includes generally diamond-shaped panels which are derived inpart from an envelope wall and in part from a closing flap. Thediamond-shaped end panels are longitudinally bisected by the end scoresof the flat twowalled envelope. For use with non-bulky contents, theenvelope tends to remain flattened with its end flaps folded along thelongitudinal end scores, however, for use with bulky goods, the envelopetakes on dimension or is expanded by the separation of the front andrear walls. The expansion is accommodated by the formation of vaulted,generally diamond-shaped end walls by the infolding or collapsing of theend flap and wall portions along the opposite sides of the diamondshapedpanels. The new envelope may be lined, with a flexible liner orpre-formed plastic sleeve. it is provided with convenient tear openingand tab reclosing arrangements designed in such a manner as to eliminaterough edges that might snag or otherwise harm the hosiery.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 25 j 46 I, k, 23

- 30a H iii T42 48 f' 1 F l W I3 PATENTEU JAN 8 SHEEI 3 0F 3 FIG. 4

FIG. 6

CONVERTIBLE HOSIERY PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hosiery andother soft goods are often packaged in envelopes of various sizes andshapes and materials, all of which are intended to protect the packagedcontents and to inform the consumer as to the nature of the goods. Aplethora of envelope constructions have been developed in an effort toprovide the requisite packaging properties for hosiery and the like. Itis to a substantial improvement in paperboard hosiery envelopes that thepresent invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Heretofore, it has been common practiceto use one type of envelope for sheer, non-bulky hosiery and soft goods,i.e., an envelope having no dimension or no substantial thickness, anessentially two-dimensional envelope, and to use a different envelope orcarton construction when bulky hosiery or soft goods are to be packaged,i.e., envelopes, bags or boxes having dimension or substantialthickness, a three-dimensional package or a flexible transparent bag orenvelope. The present invention provides a new and improved paperboardenvelope construction which may be used either two-dimensionally orthree-dimensionally to package both non-bulky and bulky goods.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, aconvertible, two-walled envelope is provided, which envelope has twoclosing end flaps articulated to the opposite end wall edges. The endflaps and the adjacent end wall portions are appropriately scored todefine laterally and longitudinally bisected oblong panels which aregenerally diamond shaped and which may be collapsed into a vaulted endwall forming configuration to give a normally two-dimensional envelope athird or depth dimension for the packaging of bulky goods. The newenvelope construction readily lends itself to use with or without aplastic protective lining for the hosiery to be packaged and also lendsitself to a variety of tear opening and tab reclosing configurations,should the same be necessary or desirable.

For a thorough understanding of the present invention and a morecomplete appreciation of its attendant advantages, reference should bemade to the following detailed description of a preferred embodimenttaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paperboard blankfrom which the new convertible envelope may be fabricated;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a folded and sealed envelope in an essentiallytwo-dimensional embodiment in which the envelope has no substantialdepth;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view ofa slightly expanded envelope of thetype shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the envelope of the invention, withbulky goods therein after the envelope has been opened and reclosed;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the carton of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of the carton of theinvention with the top closing flap torn open to provide access to thepackaged goods; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the envelope of the invention takenalong line 7-7 of FIG. 4, showing details of construction of the newenvelope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1,a blank 10 die cut from a sheet of flexible sheet material such aspaperboard or the like, from which the new convertible envelope of theinvention may be fabricated, includes a rear wall 11 articulated to afront wall 12 along a longitudinal, vertical score line 13 and a glueflap 14 articulated to the front wall 12 along a longitudinal, verticalscore line 15 parallel with the score line 13. The score lines 13, 15are definitive of the two side edges of the new envelope. An upperclosing flap 16 is articulated to the upper edge of the front wall 12along horizontal transverse score line 17 extending perpendicularlybetween the score lines 13, 15, while a lower closing flap 18 isarticulated to the lower edge of the front wall 12 along a horizontalscore line 19, extending perpendicularly between the score lines 13, 15.

The center and free edge portions of the upper closing flap l6 define areclosure tongue 20 which is engageable in a corresponding slot 200formed on the rear panel 11 for reclosing of the envelope after it hasbeen opened. The upper flap also includes two sealing ears 21, 22through which the upper flap 16 is sealed to the rear wall duringinitial envelope formation. Included in the flap 16 are convergent pairsof lines of weakness 23, 24 extending between the reclosure tongue 20and the horizontal score line 17 along which lines the flap 16 may betorn open to gain access to the packaged goods. Advantageously, thelines of weakness 23 are formed by a line of closely spaced cuts orperforations, and the lines of weakness 24 are formed by cut scores inorder to provide soft, flexible edges 25 comprising a fractionalthickness of the original paperboard (FIG. 6) when the envelope is tornopen. In this manner, rigid torn edges, which represent snagging ortearing edges during hosiery removal from the package, are avoided.Nevertheless, in certain cases,where more durable goods are packaged,the tear opening lines of weakness 23 24 may be omitted. In either case,the tear lines provide for the separation of the reclosing tongue 20from the remainder of the original flap 16 for the opening of theenvelope of the invention, as will be understood.

The bottom flap 18 is sealed to the rear wall 11 by a straight line ofadhesive 26. Likewise, the rear wall 11 is connected to the front wall12 by a straight line of adhesive 27 disposed on the glue flap 14. Thefront and rear walls 11, 12 of the envelope include cutout windowportions 28, 29, which are provided when viewing of the packaged goodsis desired. Moreover, should additional protection for the packagedgoods be desired, a polyethylene or other plastic lining tube 30 may beincluded as part of the envelope structure. In such cases after theblank is cut and creased a flattened tube or a sheet liner 30 may besecured to the front and rear walls l1, 12 by lines of adhesive 31. Itwill be understood, of course, that the above-described envelopeconstruction lends itself to fast and economical production onconventional envelope gluing equipment.

In accordance with a critical aspect of the invention, latent oblong,e.g. diamond-shaped, end walls 40, 41 are formed at the ends of theenvelope. Each of the diamond-shaped end walls is formed by fouridentical triangular portions 48, 49, two of which are disposed in eachof the end flaps and two of which are disposed inwardly of the end edgesof the front wall 12. More specifically, the triangular portions of theend walls are formed by vertical score lines 42, 43 which bisect the endedge score lines 17, 19 and by diverging score lines 44-47 which extendfrom the bisecting vertical score lines 42, 43 toward the corners of thefront wall to form latent hinge lines in the upper and lower flaps l6,18 for the diamond-shaped end walls. Thus, and as clearly shown in FIG.1, the upper diamond-shaped end panel 40 includes four right triangularportions 48, while the lower diamond-shaped end panel 41 also includesfour right triangular portions 49.

As a further aspect of the invention, the upper edge 50 is V-shaped, andthe lower edge 51 of the rear panel 11 is inverted V-shaped to coincidewith the shape of the score lines 44, 45 and to accommodate bulging ofthe diamond-shaped end panels to give the normally flat ortwo-dimensional envelope depth or dimension, if desired. Morespecifically and in accordance with the invention, if the envelope is tobe essentially two-dimensional and require no depth, the end flaps 16,18 will be conventionally folded only along the parallel score lines 17,19. However, if depth or substantial bulging of the envelope isrequired, as for example in the packaging of bulky hosiery, the latentend panels 40, 41 may be expanded, by the packaged goods, into endforming relationship very much in the nature of a geodesic structure inwhich the four triangular panels at each end of the carton are foldedalong each of the score lines definitive thereof to form thediamondshaped, dome-like end walls shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Of course,when no bulging is required, the envelope assumes the shape shown inFIG. 2. For expansion before insertion of goods, the erection of the endwalls,

may be effected by collapsing the latent diamond shaped walls toward oneanother by applying pressure at pressure points 60, 61, theintersections of lines 42, 43 with lines 44, 47, thereby separating, bybowing, the central portions of the walls 1 1, l2 and shorteningslightly the spacing of the opposite edges 13, 15, as shown in FIGS. 3and 5.

Assembling, filling and eventual opening of the envelope of theinvention may be carried out quickly and expediently as follows: Aflattened envelope tube construction is formed from the blank 10, shownin FIG. 1, by infolding the glue flap 14 and then folding the rear wallalong score line 13 over the front wall and the liner sheet or linertube 30. (If a liner is required, it is adhered to both the front andrear walls along the adhesive strips 31). Thereafter, either the flap 16or the flap 18 may be folded along the score line 17 or 19,respectively, and adhered by conventional glue or adhesive, hot melt,pressure-sensitive adhesives or the like to the rear wall of the cartonto form a two-dimensional envelope closed on three sides. The goods tobe packaged may thereafter be inserted through the end and into theliner tube 30, if present, before the envelope is completed by foldingthe remaining flap and sealing the same. The flaps 16, 18 are, ofcourse, sealed to the rear wall 11 by the adhesive line 26 on the lowerflap 18 and by the adhesive fields 21a, 22a on the ears 21, 22,respectively, of the upper flap 16. Alternatively, the envelope (andliner, if present) may be filled before either end is closed.

In accordance with the invention, if the goods packaged are flat andrequire no substantial dimension in the envelope, the latentdiamond-shaped end panels will remain latent; that is, the end flaps l6and 18 will merely be folded along the median score lines 17 and 19 toprovide a substantially flat, non-bulging envelope, as shown in FIG. 2.However, if the goods packaged have some small bulk requiring a minoramount of depth or bowing of the walls 11, 12, the latent diamond panels40, 41 will be slightly collapsed and the triangular portions 48, 49will give the envelope a slight depth dimension, as shown in FIG. 3.Should a major amount of depth and bulging be required, thediamond-shaped panels 48, 49 will be folded into full depth end wallsforming portions shown in FIG. 5. In accordance with the invention, themaximum depth of the envelope at the central portions is determined bythe spacing of the adhesive lines 31 from the edges 30a of the tube 30.

Thus, it will be appreciated that, in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention, a simple, flat envelope construction is madeconvertible to accept many types of hosiery and soft goods. That is tosay, the envelope blank shown in FIG. 1 may be used to package a widevariety of goods ranging from non-bulky to bulky. Moreover, the newenvelope construction lends itself to fabrication by conventionaltechniques on conventional machinery and lends itself to use with orwithout protective linings. Opening of the new envelope by the ultimateconsumer is a simple matter. The tongue 20 is lifted up and away fromthe front wall 12, which action is facilitated by the inclusion of ahorizontal score line 52in the flap 16 and is separated from the ears21, 22 by severance of the tear lines 23, 24 which expose safe, soft,smooth, non-snagging flexible edges 25 (FIG. 6) designed to avoid roughspots that might damage the contents. Once the envelope has been opened,the hosiery, soft goods, or other packaged goods may be simply removedby the' consumer. If desired or necessary, the package may be easilyreclosed by inserting the tongue 20 into the reclosing slot 20a, as willbe understood.

The convertible envelope of the invention facilitates the packaging andremoval of goods by virtue of the unique end flap construction includinglatent diamond end flaps extending across the full envelope width, whichdiamond-shaped flaps are comprised of four individual triangularelements which may be selectively collapsed into a geodesic type endwall to accommodate varying degress of bulge in the envelope. Moreover,the opening of the envelope provides soft torn edges which are notharmful of delicate hosiery as it is removed.

The package of the invention herein illustrated and described isintended to be representative only, as certain changes, may be madetherein without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. Forexample, the

score lines 44-47 may be shortened (e.g., 1 inch lengths for envelopes7% inches wide), or the lines 44-47, whether abbreviated or not, may bearcuate. In all cases, the envelope end structures are expanded orvaulted by the collapse of the four contiguous, generally triangularportions, which collapse may be effected by pressure applied at theintersections of the score lines 42, 17 and 43, 19. Accordingly,reference should be made to the following appended claims in determiningthe full scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A convertible hosiery envelope comprising a. a rectangular front wallhaving a top closing flap articulated thereto along an upper horizontalscore line definitive of the normal upper edge of said envelope and abottom closing flap articulated along a lower horizontal score linedefinitive of the normal lower edge of said front wall;

b. a rear wall articulated along a side edge of said front wall andfolded in face-to-face relation with said front wall;

c. glue flap means for connecting the other edge of said rear wall tothe other edge of said front wall to form a flat, two-walled tube;

(1. vertical score lines bisecting said upper and lower horizontal scorelines;

e. oblique score lines disposed above and below said horizontal upperand lower score lines and extending from the ends of said vertical scorelines toward each of the four corners of said front wall and with saidvertical and horizontal score lines generally defining four identicalcontiguous right triangular panels, two of which are disposed in each ofsaid closing flaps and two of which are disposed inwardly of the upperand lower edges of said front wall;

adhesive means disposed beyond said triangular portions of said closingflaps for sealing said closing flaps to said rear wall; and

g. the upper and lower edges of said rear wall having V and invertedV-shapes, respectively, whereby the upper and lower edges of said rearwall are in registry with the innermost edges of said triangularportions which are disposed in said front wall;

h. whereby the four contiguous triangular portions at each end of saidenvelope are definitive of generally diamond-shaped panels which areadapted to be infolded into envelope end walls to accommodate thebulging separation of said normally faceto-face front and rear walls toprovide alternate upper and lower edges for said envelope.

2. The envelope of claim 1, in which a. a window portion is formed in atleast one of said front and rear walls.

3. The envelope of claim 1, which further includes a. a plastic linermeans adhered to both of said front and rear walls.

4. The envelope of claim 1, in which a. said top flap includes sealingear portions at the opposite edges thereof adapted to seal said flap tosaid rear wall;

b. tear lines separate the remainder of said flap from said sealingears.

5. The envelope of claim 4, in which a. the free edge of said topclosing flap is definitive of a reclosure tab means;

b. whereby the severance of central portions of said flap along saidtear lines forms a reclosure tongue carrying said tab means at the freeedge thereof;

0. a horizontal slot means is formed in said rear wall and is adapted toreceive said tab means therein for the reclosure of said envelope.

6. A convertible, reclosable, four cornered hosiery envelope comprisinga. a first wall;

b. a second wall articulated to said first wall and folded inface-to-face, generally registered relation therewith;

c. a top closing flap articulated to the upper edge of one of said wallsalong an upper horizontal score line;

d. a bottom closing flap articulated to the lower edge of one of saidwalls along a lower horizontal score line;

e. vertical score lines bisecting said upper and lower horizontal scorelines;

f. oblique score lines disposed above and below said horizontal upperand lower score lines and extending from the ends of said vertical scorelines toward each of the four corners of said envelope and with saidvertical and horizontal score lines generally defining four identicalcontiguous right triangular panels, two of which are disposed in each ofsaid closing flaps and two of which are disposed inwardly of the upperand lower edges of said walls to which said flaps are articulated;

g. adhesive means disposed beyond said triangular portions of saidclosing flaps for sealing said closing flaps to said walls;

h. whereby the four contiguous triangular portions at each end of saidenvelope are definitive of generally diamond-shaped panels which areadapted to be infolded into envelope end walls to accommodate thebulging separation of said normally faceto-face front and rear walls.

7. The envelope of claim 6, in which a. said flaps are articulated tosaid first wall;

b. generally V-shaped and inverted V-shaped edges are formed in saidsecond wall.

8. The envelope of claim 6, which further includes a. longitudinalplastic liner means adhered to both of said walls.

9. The envelope of claim 8, in which a. said liner means is a plastictube.

10. The envelope of claim 8, in which a. at least one window is definedin a wall.

11. A convertible, reclosable, four cornered hosiery envelope comprisinga. a first wall;

b. a second wall articulated to said first wall and folded inface-to-face,

c. a top closing flap articulated to the upper edge of one of said wallsalong an upper horizontal score line;

. a bottom closing flap articulated to the lower edge of one of saidwalls along a lower horizontal score line; and

e. vertical score lines bisecting a selected one of said upper and lowerhorizontal score lines;

1. oblique score lines disposed above and below the selected one of saidhorizontal upper or lower score lines and extending from the ends ofsaid vertical score lines toward each of the four comers of saidenvelope and with said vertical and horizontal score lines generallydefining four identical contiguous right triangular panels, two of whichare disposed in one of said closing flaps adjacent said selected upperor lower horizontal score line and two of which are disposed inwardly ofthe edge of said wall to which said flap is articulated;

g. adhesive means disposed on said closing flaps for sealing saidclosing flaps to said walls;

h. whereby said four contiguous triangular portions at one end of saidenvelope are definitive of generally diamond-shaped panels which areadapted to be infolded into envelope end walls to accommodate thebulging separation of said normally faceto-face front and rear walls.

12. The envelope of claim 11, in which a. at least one window is definedin a wall.

1. A convertible hosiery envelope comprising a. a rectangular front wallhaving a top closing flap articulated thereto along an upper horizontalscore line definitive of the normal upper edge of said envelope and abottom closing flap articulated along a lower horizontal score linedefinitive of the normal lower edge of said front wall; b. a rear wallarticulated along a side edge of said front wall and folded inface-to-face relation with said front wall; c. glue flap means forconnecting the other edge of said rear wall to the other edge of saidfront wall to form a flat, twowalled tube; d. vertical score linesbisecting said upper and lower horizontal score lines; e. oblique scorelines disposed above and below said horizontal upper and lower scorelines and extending from the ends of said vertical score lines towardeach of the four corners of said front wall and with said vertical andhorizontal score lines generally defining four identical contiguousright triangular panels, two of which are disposed in each of saidclosing flaps and two of which are disposed inwardly of the upper andlower edges of said front wall; f. adhesive means disposed beyond saidtriangular portions of said closing flaps for sealing said closing flapsto said rear wall; and g. the upper and lower edges of said rear wallhaving V and inverted V-shapes, respectively, whereby the upper andlower edges of said rear wall are in registry with the innermost edgesof said triangular portions which are disposed in said front wall; h.whereby the four contiguous triangular portions at each end of saidenvelope are definitive of generally diamond-shaped panels which areadapted to be infolded into envelope end walls to accommodate thebulging separation of said normally face-toface front and rear walls toprovide alternate upper and lower edges for said envelope.
 2. Theenvelope of claim 1, in which a. a window portion is formed in at leastone of said front and rear walls.
 3. The envelope of claim 1, whichfurther includes a. a plastic liner means adhered to both of said frontand rear walls.
 4. The envelope of claim 1, in which a. said top flapincludes sealing ear portions at the opposite edges thereof adapted toseal said flap to said rear wall; b. tear lines separate the remainderof said flap from said sealing ears.
 5. The envelope of claim 4, inwhich a. the free edge of said top closing flap is definitive of areclosure tab means; b. whereby the severance of central portions ofsaid flap along said tear lines forms a reclosure tongue carrying saidtab means at the free edge thereof; c. a horizontal slot means is formedin said rear wall and is adapted to receive said tab means therein forthe reclosure of said envelope.
 6. A convertible, reclosable, fourcornered hosiery envelope comprising a. a first wall; b. a second wallarticulated to said first wall and folded in face-to-face, generallyregistered relation therewith; c. a top closing flap articulated to theupper edge of one of said walls along an upper horizontal score line; d.a bottom closing flap articulated to the lower edge of one of said wallsalong a lower horizontal score line; e. vertical score lines bisectingsaid upper and lower horizontal score lines; f. oblique score linesdisposed above and below said horizontal upper and lower score lines andextending from the ends of said vertical score lines toward each of thefour corners of said envelope and with said vertical and horizontalscore lines generally defining four identical contiguous righttriangular panels, two of which are disposed in each of said closingflaps and two of which are disposed inwardly of the upper and loweredges of said walls to which said flaps are articulated; g. adhesivemeans disposed beyond said triangular portions of said closing flaps forsealing said closing flaps to said walls; h. whereby the four contiguoustriangular portions at each end of said envelope are definitive ofgenerally diamond-shaped panels which are adapted to be infolded intoenvelope end walls to accommodate the bulging separation of saidnormally face-to-face front and rear walls.
 7. The envelope of claim 6,in which a. said flaps are articulated to said first wAll; b. generallyV-shaped and inverted V-shaped edges are formed in said second wall. 8.The envelope of claim 6, which further includes a. longitudinal plasticliner means adhered to both of said walls.
 9. The envelope of claim 8,in which a. said liner means is a plastic tube.
 10. The envelope ofclaim 8, in which a. at least one window is defined in a wall.
 11. Aconvertible, reclosable, four cornered hosiery envelope comprising a. afirst wall; b. a second wall articulated to said first wall and foldedin face-to-face, c. a top closing flap articulated to the upper edge ofone of said walls along an upper horizontal score line; d. a bottomclosing flap articulated to the lower edge of one of said walls along alower horizontal score line; and e. vertical score lines bisecting aselected one of said upper and lower horizontal score lines; f. obliquescore lines disposed above and below the selected one of said horizontalupper or lower score lines and extending from the ends of said verticalscore lines toward each of the four corners of said envelope and withsaid vertical and horizontal score lines generally defining fouridentical contiguous right triangular panels, two of which are disposedin one of said closing flaps adjacent said selected upper or lowerhorizontal score line and two of which are disposed inwardly of the edgeof said wall to which said flap is articulated; g. adhesive meansdisposed on said closing flaps for sealing said closing flaps to saidwalls; h. whereby said four contiguous triangular portions at one end ofsaid envelope are definitive of generally diamond-shaped panels whichare adapted to be infolded into envelope end walls to accommodate thebulging separation of said normally face-to-face front and rear walls.12. The envelope of claim 11, in which a. at least one window is definedin a wall.